Breaking Ground: RCC Workforce Development Center
By John Charles Robbins
LUMBERTON, NC (July 15, 2008) — Under a giant white tent, local, state and federal officials gathered Monday morning to break ground for a state-of-the-art job-training facility, Robeson Community College's Workforce Development Center.
“This center has been a vision for the Robeson Community College board of trustees for nearly three years,” said Charles Chrestman, the RCC president who grabbed one of the 13 golden shovels that were used for the first turn of dirt. Chrestman, saying the project took extensive time and perseverance, thanked city, county, state and federal officials who worked to make the center a reality.
“This is a happy day for us,” said George Regan, chairman of the RCC board of trustees. “Today is not the end but the beginning. ... This will be a very functional, useful building ... a very impressive building.” With its presence on the edge of campus, a stone's throw from Interstate 95, the center will make “a big statement” for the more than 50,000 vehicles driving by each day, Regan said.
When completed in the fall of 2009, the 19,800-square-foot complex will house the college's Bio Ag Center, Industrial Services, Small Business Development Center, Human Resource Development, Occupational Extension/Community Services, and the office of the vice president for Adult and Continuing Education. It will also include space for a large multi-purpose meeting room, computer labs anda conference room. The $3.75 million project will be paid for with state money and $1 million from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Congressman Mike McIntrye spoke of the bipartisan efforts to secure the funding for the center, and recognized a representative of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole. “I am glad to share this joy right here in my hometown,” McIntrye said. “It is said that tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today. ... Robeson Community College is taking off like a rocket – and at the same time staying grounded.” The congressman reminded the crowd of a line from the movie “Field of Dreams,” which says, “If you built it, they will come.” He then said: “Well folks, we're building it.”
State Sen. David Weinstein spoke of the state's financial history, and how state lawmakers – in the face of declining business and industry – sunk money into education for the future of the state. “If we're going to compete in a worldwide economy, we've got to adapt to new ways of doing business,” Weinstein said.
Another special guest at the groundbreaking ceremony was R. Scott Ralls, the new president of the North Carolina Community College System. “This is a big day for Robeson County. This is a big day for Southeastern North Carolina, and for all of North Carolina,” Ralls said. “Congratulations for this accomplishment. Something like this doesn't happen without leadership, collaboration and partnership.” He said the center will help the area deal with an economic transition that will be necessary to survive.
County Commissioner Tommy Wellington, also a trustee on the RCC board, said he is pleased to see the center coming to fruition. “This college has such an impact on the community,” Wellington said, noting that one in five people in the county are touched in some way by RCC. Wellington promised continued support of RCC from the county commissioners.
- Architect: The LSV Partnership Architects/Planners
- Structural Engineer: Fleming & Associates
- Mechanical Engineer: Progressive Design Collaborative, Ltd.
- Civil Engineer: Johnny Nobles & Associates
- General Contractor: M & E Contracting, Inc.
- Plumbing Contractor: McGirt's Plumbing
- Mechanical Contractor: Smith's Refrigeration, Inc.
- Electrical Contractor: Intelect
